New-comers Hitech GP topped the time-sheets at the first FIA F2 pre-season test at Sakhir International Circuit in Bahrain. Italian driver Luca Ghiotto, who has won six races in FIA F2 so far, rocketed up the time sheets with a 1:41.252 in the final session of the three-day test, putting Hitech on top.
Half-way through the afternoon running’s, Ghiotto punched in a scorcher of a lap to take P1 in the standings. His benchmark was eight thousandths better than Carlin rookie Daruvala in Tuesday’s afternoon running.
The session was focused on long-runs and race simulations ahead of the season opener at the end of March.
Team-mate Mazepin finished 10th fastest in the three-day test, just 0.384s off Ghiotto’s lap of 1:41.252. The British outfit had allocated the first two days to bedding themselves in as the F2 field expands to 22 cars in 2020, before unleashing their true potential in the final day of testing.
The three-day test marked F2’s collective running with 18-inch tyres, which the series is introducing this year ahead of Formula 1 making the same switch next season in 2021.
The first race on the 2020 FIA F2 Championship calendar will get underway at Sakhir International Circuit in Bahrain on 20-22 March, as Hitech makes their return following pre-season testing.
